Effects of ouabain and verapamil on endothelin-1-induced contraction of mesenteric artery in young spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We studied the effects of ouabain and verapamil on endothelin-1(ET-1)-induced contraction of the mesenteric artery in prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Rings of mesenteric artery of SHRs and WKY rats aged 4 weeks were superfused with physiological saline solution and isometric tension was measured. ET-1 (10(-9) or 10(-8) M)-induced contractions were significantly larger in WKY rats than in SHRs. ET-1 (10(-7) M)-induced contractions were not significantly different between SHRs and WKY rats. Verapamil markedly inhibited ET-1 (10(-7) M)-induced contractions both in SHRs and in WKY rats. Although the percent inhibition tended to be larger in SHRs than in WKY rats, the difference was not significant. Ouabain significantly increased ET-1 (10(-7) M)-induced contraction in the presence of verapamil both in SHRs and in WKY rats. The increase was significantly greater in SHRs than in WKY rats. As a result, ET-1 (10(-7) M)-induced contractions were significantly greater in SHRs than in WKY rats in the presence of verapamil and ouabain. These results suggest that in ET-1-induced arterial contraction, [Na+]i-mediated [Ca2+]i regulation such as the Na+/Ca2+ exchange system might be greater in SHRs than in WKY rats, and that this might be, at least in part, involved in the pathogenesis or maintenance of hypertension in SHRs.